The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has called for an amendment to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Act to recognise the Nigerian Law School as a university and include it as a beneficiary.
Fagbemi made the appeal on Monday during the inauguration of 10 staff quarters and the handover of operational vehicles at the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari.
He noted that the law school, despite its distinct role in training legal professionals, is excluded from TETFUND benefits due to its ambiguous classification as neither a university nor a standard tertiary institution.
“The time has come for an amendment to include the Nigerian Law School as a university that can benefit from TETFUND,” Fagbemi stated. “The Law School stands out among other institutions and deserves support.”
The Attorney-General commended the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his contributions to the Abuja Campus and urged other stakeholders to support the institution’s development.
Wike echoed Fagbemi’s call, urging a swift amendment to TETFUND provisions to accommodate the Law School. He also assured that the FCT’s 2025 budget would include funds for the construction of hostels for male and female students at the Abuja Campus.
“This is a professional training school, and we will give all necessary support to ensure the TETFUND amendment happens,” Wike said. “If anyone disagrees, they can wait for their turn as Minister and prioritise their profession.”
Fagbemi further emphasised the importance of addressing staff accommodation and campus security, noting their impact on the institution’s productivity and overall learning environment.
The Nigerian Law School, with several campuses across the country, remains pivotal in training legal practitioners and is seen as deserving of the same support granted to other tertiary institutions.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.